World Therapeutic Horticulture Day

Join us for a global celebration of ‘World Therapeutic Horticulture Day’ on the 18th of May 2025. The day is dedicated to raising awareness of the practice of therapeutic horticulture and the many benefits it brings to communities around the world and the amazing people who work in the field. Ultimately, we hope this will win recognition for the profession.

Social and Therapeutic horticulture is a practice that uses plants, gardens, and nature to help people improve their physical, mental and social health. We have been using this approach since 1979 and over this time we have seen for ourselves the meaningful and positive impact it has on so many people's health. It is deeply ingrained in all of us to thrive in a natural environment. Providing opportunities for people to garden and connect with nature, whilst also connecting with other people is something we are proud to do.

There are many reasons to celebrate therapeutic horticulture. First and foremost, it has been shown to be an effective therapy to improve physical, mental and social health, including anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. It can also help improve socialisation skills, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem.

The aims of World Therapeutic Horticulture Day are:

• To raise awareness about the therapeutic use of horticulture throughout the world, the skilled practitioners who work in this field and the benefits this brings to society.
• To connect and partner with other groups around the world that are focused on therapeutic horticulture, horticultural or garden therapy and other nature or plant-based interventions.

Therapeutic horticulture is a sustainable approach to healthcare that has a positive impact on the environment. It promotes the responsible use of natural resources and encourages the cultivation of plants that provide various benefits, such as cleaner air and water.

Additionally, therapeutic horticulture is practiced in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centres, schools, and community gardens. This makes it a versatile therapy that can be tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of individuals.

Therapeutic horticulture practitioners

The role and value of therapeutic horticulture practitioners cannot be underestimated – they are vital allies to health and care professionals. A therapeutic horticulture practitioner uses gardening and nature-based activities as a therapeutic tool to promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Their role is to design, plan, and implement horticulture-based interventions that aim to improve the health and quality of life of individuals and groups.

We want to celebrate and promote the brilliant work that these practitioners do and the positive impact it has on both individuals and the environment.

• Share your story on Instagram using the following hashtags #WTHD #worldtherapeutichorticultureday #gardeningforhealth and tag @thrivecharity and any of the other participating groups so that we build momentum together with the same messages.
  
• Share, like and post especially on the 18th May and the week leading up to it. We really look forward to hearing your stories.